LOCATION: Unknown - East side - Battleground
The bullet shot forth with incredible speed from the barrel of Crescent Rose. Striking the Beowolf squarely in the chest, the impact hurled the creature backward and caused it to disintegrate into a flurry of black particles. The force of the shot spun Ruby Rose around just in time to lock onto another Beowolf barreling towards her. She fired again with precision, this time piercing the giant's foreleg.
The sudden shift in gravity yanked Ruby away from Team JNPR, sending her sliding next to yet another Beowolf. The creature let out a fierce bark, twisting its body to slash at her with its claw. But Ruby was already gone, replaced by a soft explosion of rose petals. She propelled herself into the air, executing a midair roll to gain a better angle, and unleashed two shots aimed directly at the Beowolf's head.
Ruby deftly landed on the ground, rolling to evade a vicious slash from a Beowolf. She rose behind the creature with a swift motion, her hybrid weapon transforming as it shifted and extended into scythe mode. Just as the Beowolf readied to strike again, Ruby fired a shot that sent her weapon swinging down, cleanly decapitating the Grimm at the waist. Another Beowolf charged at her, roaring fiercely, but Ruby was prepared. With precision, she swung her scythe, severing its right arm and leg in one fluid motion. Anchoring her weapon behind her, she fired a bullet that launched her forward, delivering a deadly slash that split the creature in half at the waist.
The wind whipped past Ruby's ear as she soared in the air. Sailing toward a Beowolf that stood up on its two legs. But before the creature could do anything, Ruby shot it through the head and the Grimm collapsed on the ground. She once again spun around midair until she faced the other Beowolf that stared up at her with a tilt of its head. She raised her scythe above her head, and pulled the trigger, firing a shot that propelled her toward the creature in a rolling descent. Ruby sliced through the Beowolf in half, landing on one knee, then turned to her right to see yet another Beowolf sprinting towards her.
Ruby swung her weapon around at the very last second when the Grimm approached her. Piercing the curved blade down the lower center of the Beowolf's nape, forcing its body to drop flat on the ground and killing it instantly. She looked over her shoulder and saw an Ursa charging towards her with an echoing roar. Ruby grabbed Crescent Rose's handle and leaped in the air in time to dodge a swipe from the Ursa, all the while changing the angle of her hybrid weapon. She landed on her feet as she stood behind the dead Grimm's corpse, aimed her sights at the stunned Ursa's face, and fired. The bullet pierces through its snout and causes its head to explode in a black mist.
The hybrid weapon's kick sent Ruby flying toward a charging Beowolf. Before the Grimm could pounce its prey, Ruby stabbed the sharp butt end of her hybrid weapon into the creature's belly. The Grimm stood stunned in place as it grabbed Crescent Rose by the handle. Staring down at the young huntress in shock while the latter met its piercing gaze with determination set in her narrowed eyes. Her finger pressed down the hybrid weapon's trigger, pushing the butt end deeper into its chest. Ruby releases her grip on the trigger, leaps around the Grimm, and lands on its back whilst grabbing their weapon's grip in her grasp again.
Right finger flexed, pressing down firmly on the trigger. The shot rang out, striking the ground and causing the curved blade of Crescent Rose to slice cleanly through the Grimm's waist, cleaving it in two. The force of the attack sent Ruby soaring through the air with Crescent Rose firmly in her grasp. As she soared, she expertly positioned her boots beneath the blade's curve, balancing herself mid-flight. She fired another shot with a swift motion, propelling herself rapidly toward a nearby Beowolf as she descended. The blade of Crescent Rose plunged onto the Grimm's back just as Ruby landed gracefully on the ground. Without missing a beat, she initiated a short sprint, her instincts kicking in as she narrowly dodged a powerful claw swipe from an approaching Ursa.
Ruby landed on the Beowolf's arm and turned her narrowed gaze toward the Ursa. The Ursa took a step forward while raising its claw, however, it snapped its head upward when it felt a sharp pain in its back. Ruby arched a brow at the Grimm's sudden frozen state. Ruby pulled her blade off the dead Beowolf as the Ursa fell on its belly next to the wolf's disintegrating corpse. She landed on one knee and lifted her head to meet the eyes of the source. Jaune stood behind the Ursa's body and stared back at Ruby.
Jaune gave her a quick nod, and the latter returned the same gesture before he ran off across the battlefield. Out of nowhere a trio of Beowolves charged towards Ruby with barks and growls. She spun Crescent Rose around, slashed the trio's legs off their kneecaps, and then proceeded to slash more Beowolves that charged at her from all sides. She placed the blade's curve over the nape of one Beowolf that approached her and jumped around in a full three-sixty before landing back on the ground. Right finger flexed on the trigger, firing an upward shot that propelled the curved blade downward and removed the Grimm's head off its shoulders.
Ruby snapped her head up in time to see another Beowolf in front of her. The bipedal canine had its arm anchored back, readying to slash the red-hooded huntress. Ruby angled Crescent Rose, placed her finger on the trigger, and fired. The bullet propelled the weapon with a spin and struck the Grimm square to its chin. Sending the creature flying backward high in the air before it landed hard on the ground next to its monstrous brethren. The other Beowolves glared at Ruby with sheer contempt for daring to hurt their brethren.
The creatures crouch in preparation to pounce at Ruby as she assumes a battle stance. But before she could do anything, all three Beowolves were suddenly struck by a trio of powerful air bullets. The three Grimm were sent flying before exploding in a black mist. Leaving the young red-hooded huntress shocked. Then she heard something landing beside her, causing Ruby to glance to her right.
Ruby's lips curled to a bright smile as she stared at the profile of Midoriya Izuku.
"Izuku!"
Midoriya Izuku narrowed his eyes as he watched the battle taking place sixty feet below. He could see Team JNPR fighting a horde of Grimm on the right side of the battlefield, said horde consisting of Beowolves, Ursas, and Boarbatusk. When he turned to his left, he saw his friend Ruby battling a pack of Beowolves alone. At first, Izuku was a bit worried watching his friend fight the pack of Grimm all by herself. But his worry quickly subsided when he saw her effortlessly slaying the Beowolves one by one. But while she managed to take out a big group of her assailants, another pack arrived on the scene and was already ready to pounce on the young huntress.
"Okay guys, listen," Izuku began, looking between Amber, Weiss, Yang, and Blake. "I'm gonna lend Ruby a hand, you help out the others."
"On it," Blake responded immediately.
"Be careful," Amber chimed.
Izuku subconsciously released his grip on the girls as the tendrils of Blackwhip uncoiled themselves from their waists. Gravity wrenched them down and the wind blew their hair back. Yang let out a loud 'Woohooo' as she fell alongside her friends. Izuku propelled himself toward Ruby with the flick of his fingers, then straightened his body midair before outstretching his right arm. Left hand gripped his wrist, flexed both middle and ring finger, then aimed at the three Beowolves. Emerald energy crackled around Midoriya's wrist as he channeled his power into his hand.
"Delaware Smash: Air Force!" Izuku mentally intoned before launching three air bullets at his targets.
The air bullets hit their mark and sent the three Beowolves flying. The Grimm trio flew in the air before exploding into black particles, disappearing like dust in the wind. Izuku canceled his Float quirk before landing on the ground beside Ruby. Staring ahead where the creatures died and turned to dust.
"Izuku!" Ruby called, sounding pleased that he had arrived early enough to help her out. "You made it!"
Izuku smiled happily at her.
"Just in the nick of time," Izuku said, fully turning his body to face her.
Ruby looked around before looking back at Izuku.
"But where are the others?" Ruby asked worriedly.
"I left your sister and the others to help out Jaune and his team," Izuku replied, briefly glancing at Team JNPR before returning his gaze to Ruby. "They'll be okay, for now, let's focus on what's in front of us."
Izuku and Ruby faced forward. Eyes locked on the menacing wave of Beowolves, Ursas, and Boarbatusk hurtling toward them. The air was thick with the sound of fierce growls and bone-chilling roars that sent adrenaline coursing through their veins. They exchanged determined glances without a word, an unspoken understanding passing between them. With a shared nod, they launched into action, charging toward the oncoming horde with a fierce intensity, their hearts pounding in sync with the chaos around them.
One Beowolf was about to leap at one of them. However, the Grimm froze in its place as it saw Izuku speed-blitz in front of it in the blink of an eye. Before the creature could do anything, Izuku uppercut the Grimm and sent it up in the air. Ruby sprinted toward her friend then jumped, landing her boots on Izuku's shoulders, and leaped in the air. She swung the curved blade of Crescent Rose and decapitated the Ursa. The Grimm halves exploded into ash the moment they touched the ground.
Ruby landed on the ground and watched Izuku set one foot forward while retreating the other backward. Kicking off faster with his heel, he lunged forward with incredible speed. He reached towards an alpha Beowolf first, swung his fist emerald energy crackling around it, and punched the creature square in its chest. The alpha Beowolf roared in pain as the force of Izuku's punch sent it flying. Followed by wind pressure that expanded outward in a ring, causing everything to rattle and shake by its powerful force.
"Petal Drill!" Ruby shouted, sprinting toward Izuku.
"Okay!" Izuku immediately responded.
Izuku anchored his arm behind him, summoning a tendril of Blackwhip that latched onto Ruby's grip with a firm hold. With a fierce grunt, he yanked her forward, launching the young huntress toward her target with breathtaking speed. In a swift flick of his fingers, he propelled himself after her. Ruby, seizing the moment, wrapped her arm around her friend and conjured a swirling vortex of spinning rose petals, enveloping them both in a dazzling display. The emerald energy of One for All crackling around them fused with the momentum of the rapidly expanding drill. As the red drill grew larger, multiple tendrils of Blackwhip shot out, weaving around it like a protective shroud, enhancing its power and intensity.
The Petal Drill tore through the ranks of the Grimm with relentless precision, each strike a testament to its power. Limbs were severed, skulls crushed, and the very essence of the creatures was reduced to swirling black mist. As the last of the horde fell, the Petal Drill's energy waned, dissipating into the air. Izuku and Ruby touched down on the ground, the aftermath of their battle surrounding them. Ruby's eyes gleamed with triumph, surveying the scene with a confident grin that spoke volumes of her prowess. Izuku struggled to maintain his footing, the adrenaline of the fight still coursing through him as he tried to process the display of raw strength they had just performed.
It took everything in Midoriya not to vomit.
Jaune Arc grunted as he dodged and weaved the slashing paws of a Ursa. The Grimm growled in frustration when the teen ducked out from underneath the swinging claws before springing up behind them to deliver a strike to its back with his sword. The Grimm roared in pain, but before it could turn around to retaliate, it felt an explosion of pain on its left cheek. Yang Xiaolong leaped out of nowhere with her fist striking its face in full force. A blast of wind pressure and fire from her Ember Celica accompanied the punch, sending the Grimm flying twenty feet away from them. Yang glanced at Jaune with a confident grin.
"Room for one more?" Yang asked.
Jaune smiled upon seeing her.
"Glad you could make it," Jaune said.
The Ursa started a short sprint before stopping in front of Yang. It threw its head back and roared at the heavens, in an attempt to scare the blond brawler. Yang raised her fist whilst assuming a battle stance.
"Hope you're ready to party, big guy," Yang taunted, her grin slightly widened. "Because I'm about to hit you off with a Yang."
The chaos of the battlefield momentarily fell silent as Yang casually dropped her pun. It was an unexpected interruption that silenced the clamor of battle. The air was thick all around her with tension as Beowolves, Ursas, and Boarbatusks snorted in confusion—all of them pausing mid-attack to stare at the blond brawler with a mix of bewilderment and disbelief. They couldn't comprehend what they just heard.
Ren arched an eyebrow with a mixture of skepticism and intrigue in his expression. His partner Nora, ever the energetic spark, gazed disappointingly at her friend, clearly unimpressed by Yang's attempt at humor. Amber and Pyrrha exchanged puzzled glances in the background, their faces betraying genuine confusion as they struggled to comprehend the joke amidst the chaos.
Blake shook her head; her partner's puns had a knack for defying the seriousness of their surroundings. Weiss was visibly exasperated, rubbing her temples as if trying to ward off an impending headache from the sheer absurdity of it all. Izuku blinked in blank astonishment. His mind tried to process the bizarre shift in mood, while Ruby let out a dramatic groan, unable to contain her frustration. Lamenting her sister's penchant for corny humor.
"Eh? Get it? Because Yang rhymes with Bang. Get it?" Yang asked, still smiling with pride at her joke. Everyone was still too shocked to overhear such a terrible pun.
Jaune sighed while sagging his shoulders.
"Yang…can we just, continue our battle," Jaune asked in exasperation.
Yang shrugged her shoulders dismissively. Before the Ursa had time to react, Yang charged forward and struck the giant's chest with her fist. She followed up with a relentless barrage of punches and shotgun blasts. The Ursa exploded in black mist as Yang rounded and blocked a Beowolf's claw from slashing her. Jaune ran up and slashed the canine Grimm's leg off its kneecap.
The Beowolf howled in pain as it fell on one knee. Yang used this operation to thrust her fist and deliver an uppercut. The blow was so forceful that it tore the creature's jaw off from its neck. Both the Grimm's whole being and the flying jaw dissipated in black ashes. Yang and Jaune place their backs against each other, finding themselves surrounded by both Beowolves and Ursas.
Away from the blond brawler and knight's battle, Amber and Pyrrha were busy dealing with a pack of Boarbatusk. The two girls had their backs against each other due to being surrounded by the Grimm. Amber's eyes darted from one Boarbatusk to another. She twirled her staff upside down before striking the upper end to the ground, creating a shock wave of wind that caused the pack of Boarbatusk to quickly back up. She then twirled said staff back in place and began twirling it to a circle above her head. Conjuring a wind vortex that caused the Beowolves to be caught by the cyclone.
The pack of Boarbatusks barked in panic. Flailing their limbs midair they were caught up in the whirlwind, struggling to escape their predicament. Pyrrha watched Amber's work in awe as she lined the pack up inside the spinning cyclone. Once she had the pack of Grimm in place, she glanced at Pyrrha over her shoulder.
"Now!" Amber called.
Pyrrha nodded and readied her Miló. She anchored her arm back with Miló in hand, her weapon transfigured into a spear as she prepared to launch it at the center of the pack of Boarbatusks. Once the invisible girl had the targets in her sight, she threw her spear with a powerful force. The spear ascended through the cyclone and impaled the bellies of all the Boarbatusk in perfect tandem. The pack of Grimm explodes in a black mist and the cyclone dissipates instantly.
Miló descended just in time for Pyrrha to catch the weapon in her hand. Pyrrha and Amber turned around to face each other with smiles on their faces, then nodded in respect. Their moment together was cut short when they heard a roar from across the clearing, drawing their attention. The duo turned their gaze toward a group of Ursas and Boarbatusk charging towards them. Followed by roars and bellows that shook the air.
Fierce determination blazed in the pair's eyes. Pyrrha and Amber met each other's gaze, a silent agreement passing between them. They exchanged a resolute nod, adrenaline coursing through their veins as they gripped their weapons tightly. In unison, they launched into a sprint, charging bravely into the surging tide of chaos that awaited them.
Hovering a hundred feet above them, unbeknownst to everyone fighting the Grimm, a small steel ball-shaped camera observed their battle quietly.
LOCATION: Unknown - West side - Underground Facility
Standing transfixed In the dimly lit confines of a shadowy room was a solitary figure. His attention was riveted to the intense spectacle playing out on the flickering screen. Clad in a tailored black suit that accentuated his lean yet muscular build, he exuded an air of both authority and menace. A long, sleek black coat cascaded down to his knees, draping over fitted black pants that hinted at agility and strength. His hands were encased in form-fitting black gloves, enhancing the enigmatic aura that surrounded him.
A hood shrouded his head, casting an eerie shadow over his features. He also wore a stark, expressionless black cat mask obscuring his identity, adding an unsettling touch to his already intimidating presence. The mask was perfectly crafted, with smooth lines that gave him an almost feline grace, reinforcing the sense of mystery that enveloped him.
The man's gaze bore into the screen, riveted to the unfolding chaos. His eyes moved deftly from one child to another, each movement a calculated analysis. He scrutinized their skills and fighting styles with a discerning intensity as if dissecting their every move in search of weaknesses and strengths. The air in the room was thick with tension, heavy with the implications of what he witnessed—a silent observer in a world where innocence met brutality.
As he scanned the battlefield, a mix of familiar and unfamiliar faces caught his attention among the young Huntresses and Huntsmen. Some barely registered in his mind, insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Yet, three figures stood out vividly, igniting his curiosity: the Fall Maiden, the enigmatic girl with striking silver eyes, and the green-haired boy whose presence seemed to ripple with potential. But said boy was the one he paid attention to the most. Due to two strange abilities the boy on screen had displayed.
The man in the black hood reflected on an important aspect of life in Remnant: every individual is born with a unique semblance. However, the boy's ability to shoot air bullets with just a flick of his fingers, combined with the unusual dark tendrils emanating from his body, suggested that he was anything but ordinary. Then there was the girl with the striking silver eyes. He had heard many legends about the Silver-Eyed Warriors but had never had the opportunity to see one up close. The same mystery surrounded the Maidens, figures of great intrigue in their own right. While he may not know the identities of these three individuals just yet, he recognized the significance of their abilities and resolved to observe them more closely moving forward.
He hopes they'll impress him throughout their journey.
He'll be taking notes.
A/N: Hope you all enjoyed this twenty-second chapter of today's story! This is the first chapter to be published in the year 2025. Man, it's been a long time since I last wrote this. I apologize that this chapter took long to come out. Life has kept me busy and at the same time I was dealing with an enemy that every writer has in common with: writer's block. I mentioned in a note in one of my stories that I was sick, and wouldn't be able to write for a while. But I'm better now and ready to get back into writing again. You know, it's kinda crazy; today it's April 22 and this chapter is numbered 22. Kinda convenient, don't you think? I'll end this note by once again thanking all of you for the huge support you guys have for this story despite it not being updated for so long.
With all of that said, I'll be taking my leave. See you in the next chapter, young readers!